sex and sexuality in darwin's lifetime
Sexuality during the Victorian times was limited to the confines of the male and female heterosexual relationship, anything else was considered abnormal. Thanks to Darwin’s influence on the Victorian era, the male role in Victorian times took a more prominent role; with the theory of sexual selection men were accepted to be active pursuers of sex and reproduction. Females in turn were in turn the monogamous, permissive counterparts in a relationship, expected to only be interested in sex for reproduction. In reality this stereotype was far from actual human nature, and this expectation of people to fit into this stereotype brought many unhealthy sexual practices and attitudes.
Women were not traditionally taught about sex, their role, enforced to them from an early age, was to be the “domestic goddess” or the family care taker, pure, carful and loving without the bestial sexual urges of men. Men were “considerate” if they refrained from sex with their wives because it was assumed that women did not enjoy, let alone desire, sex. Ironically, during this time on of the few occupations women could pursue and maintain financial freedom was prostitution. The one activity women were expected to refrain from was one of the only occupations that could offer them independence. The commonality of prostitution in the Victorian era, and the lack of education on sex lead to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, which became a major public health problem of the time.
Men, despite their newly accepted role as the pursuer, were also encouraged to refrain from sex. It was the Victorian belief that engaging in sex would lead to poor morals and a weak mind, so men were encouraged to fight their bestial need for sex and save their pent up energy for intellectual pursuits. Masturbation was so highly discouraged, that anti-masturbation devices were commercialized, for those who had a hard time controlling their sexual urges themselves. As a husband, men were encouraged to only engage in sex for reproduction, and this reinforced the subculture of prostitution, as previously mentioned, to flourish.
Homosexuality, as with all eras, existed during this time, but it was seen as unnatural and disgusting. In a time when even “normal” heterosexual sex was considered a brutish act, homosexual acts (private or not) were punishable by law.
Women were not traditionally taught about sex, their role, enforced to them from an early age, was to be the “domestic goddess” or the family care taker, pure, carful and loving without the bestial sexual urges of men. Men were “considerate” if they refrained from sex with their wives because it was assumed that women did not enjoy, let alone desire, sex. Ironically, during this time on of the few occupations women could pursue and maintain financial freedom was prostitution. The one activity women were expected to refrain from was one of the only occupations that could offer them independence. The commonality of prostitution in the Victorian era, and the lack of education on sex lead to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, which became a major public health problem of the time.
Men, despite their newly accepted role as the pursuer, were also encouraged to refrain from sex. It was the Victorian belief that engaging in sex would lead to poor morals and a weak mind, so men were encouraged to fight their bestial need for sex and save their pent up energy for intellectual pursuits. Masturbation was so highly discouraged, that anti-masturbation devices were commercialized, for those who had a hard time controlling their sexual urges themselves. As a husband, men were encouraged to only engage in sex for reproduction, and this reinforced the subculture of prostitution, as previously mentioned, to flourish.
Homosexuality, as with all eras, existed during this time, but it was seen as unnatural and disgusting. In a time when even “normal” heterosexual sex was considered a brutish act, homosexual acts (private or not) were punishable by law.
"The Birds and the Bees" Kimberly A. Hamlin
The Darwinian approach to human romance and sex was extremely controversial when it was first introduced through the theory of sexual selection. Never before had human love and sex been linked to the behavior of our animal counterparts. Darwin believed that human romance was simply an evolved form of animal mating, not a divine gift given to humans by God. To back up his theory Darwin found many examples of evidence of love in nature, particularly in mating customs of animals like birds that display elaborate rituals to attract mates. Despite his evidence, people were still not easily swayed to believe in such a radical theory, to neutralize the theory Darwin often made links to animal behavior in “lesser” races, so as to say that despite humans tie with lowly nature the white high class male was still at the top. Through the institution of marriage the European white race had “perfected” the institution of love and reproduction in the natural world. Despite many people’s initial recoil Darwin’s theory of sexual selection eventually opened the door to scientists openly studying sex and its role in nature.
Hamlin proclaims in the text, “No longer adhering to the old idea that sexual urges were shameful, many authors began to celebrate sexuality precisely because of its animalistic and natural functions.” Scientists like Geddes and Thomson adopted this new explanation of human sexuality and used it to academically study sex. Thomson and Geddes were not the only scientists inspired by Darwin’s theory, Hamlin explains, “Explaining human mating in terms of animals removed sex from the specter of religious or moral judgment and, instead, defined it as a vital evolutionary mechanism worthy of study.” In the beginning, however, it is important to note that these "worthy studies" were limited to heterosexual sex in nature, all other forms of sexual expression and emotion were discarded as "defects" within the system. Despite its narrow beginnings however, sex studies have become an important facet of the biological understanding of animal behavior and paved the way for higher a better understanding of all forms of sex.
Hamlin proclaims in the text, “No longer adhering to the old idea that sexual urges were shameful, many authors began to celebrate sexuality precisely because of its animalistic and natural functions.” Scientists like Geddes and Thomson adopted this new explanation of human sexuality and used it to academically study sex. Thomson and Geddes were not the only scientists inspired by Darwin’s theory, Hamlin explains, “Explaining human mating in terms of animals removed sex from the specter of religious or moral judgment and, instead, defined it as a vital evolutionary mechanism worthy of study.” In the beginning, however, it is important to note that these "worthy studies" were limited to heterosexual sex in nature, all other forms of sexual expression and emotion were discarded as "defects" within the system. Despite its narrow beginnings however, sex studies have become an important facet of the biological understanding of animal behavior and paved the way for higher a better understanding of all forms of sex.
sex THROUGH the lens of the victorian era
Click on pictures to view captions
For Further Reading...
- Howard, P. (n.d.) Oscar Wilde. Retrieved from http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/bio4.htm
- Darwin, C. (1871). The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.museumoftheearth.org/planyourvisit.php?page=tempexhibitions/CharlesDarwin/Darwindescent
- Love in the Animal World. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/our-world/2011/02/love-in-the-animal-kingdom.aspx
- Marsh, J. Sex and sexuality in the 19th century. Retrieved from http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/sex-and-sexuality-19th-century/
- Gray, L. (n.d.). Homosexual Behavior Widespread in Animals According to New Study. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/5550488/Homosexual-behaviour-widespread-in-animals-according-to-new-study.html